Date: 2019-03-19Category: DGS CircularState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Compliance with the mandatory requirement for Trainers and Assessors as per Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for seafarers (STCW) 1978 as amended.
**Executive Summary**
Training Circular No. 07 of 2019, issued by the Directorate General of Shipping, Govt. of India on March 19, 2019, addresses compliance with mandatory requirements for trainers and assessors as per the STCW Convention. It enforces qualification standards and mandates specific training for personnel at Maritime Training Institutes (MTIs). Key action items include meeting training requirements by June 30, 2019, and updating MTI profiles.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Compliance with STCW Convention:**
* Parties responsible for training and assessment of seafarers must ensure personnel are qualified according to STCW Code Section A-1/6.
* Institutions recognizing training courses must ensure instructors' qualifications and experience meet quality standards per STCW Code Section A-1/8.
* **VICT/TOTA/TOTI Course Requirements:**
* Principals, Vice Principals, faculty, and instructors were required to undertake the VICT course as per Training Circular No. 25 of 2018.
* Those who had undertaken the TOTA/TOTI course prior to the issuance of Training Circular No. 25 of 2018 were exempt from the VICT course.
* MTIs were directed to ensure the completion of VICT/TOTA/TOTI courses by November 30, 2018.
* **Consequences of Non-Compliance:**
* Access to the e-governance portal for uploading batch details will be denied to MTIs if personnel do not meet qualification or age requirements.
* Certificates of Competency may be suspended for those employed on a full-time basis with multiple MTIs.
* Personnel without VICT/TOTA/TOTI qualifications, who are found to be imparting training to DGS-approved candidates, will be debarred from teaching in any DGS-approved MTI for five years.
* **General Directives:**
* MTIs must ensure faculty details are correct and updated on their MTI profile.
* MMD/Recognized Organizations must verify VICT/TOTA/TOTI certificates during inspections and report any deficiencies.
* All Principals, Vice Principals, faculty, and instructors must complete the required training (VICT/TOTA/TOTI) by June 30, 2019.
* The Training Circular takes immediate effect.
**Impact Analysis**
**Maritime Training Institutes (MTIs)**
* **Impact:** MTIs must ensure their staff meet the required qualifications and age requirements. Non-compliance will lead to denied access to the e-governance portal and possible debarment of unqualified personnel.
* **Action Required:** Verify and update faculty details on MTI profiles, ensure all personnel have completed required training (VICT/TOTA/TOTI) by June 30, 2019.
**Principals/Vice Principals/Faculty/Instructors**
* **Impact:** Individuals must meet qualification and age requirements and complete the necessary training. Failure to do so may result in suspension of their Certificate of Competency or debarment from teaching.
* **Action Required:** Complete required training (VICT/TOTA/TOTI) by June 30, 2019, and ensure compliance with qualification and age criteria.
**Mercantile Marine Departments (MMD) / Recognized Organizations (RO)**
* **Impact:** These bodies are responsible for verifying training certificates and reporting deficiencies.
* **Action Required:** Ensure physical verification of VICT/TOTA/TOTI certificates during inspections and report any discrepancies to the Principal Officer of MMD and the Directorate.
Key Entities Referenced
Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for seafarers (STCW), 1978: International convention establishing basic requirements on training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers.
Training Circular No. 07 of 2019: Circular specifying compliance requirements for trainers and assessors.
Maritime Training Institutes (MTI): Institutes providing maritime training and subject to the directives in the circular.
Directorate General of Shipping: Regulatory body issuing the circular and responsible for oversight of maritime training.
DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF
SHIPPING. GOVT.OF INDIA. IS/ISO Clause No.7.1
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Page I of2 and Assessors as per aStandards of
TraininE. Certification
and
Watchkeeping for se@
1978 as amended.
Issued by the
Director General Date : 19.O3.2O19
Training-Circular No. O7 of 2O19
of Shipping
Govt. of Indta
1. Noting that the STCW convention 1978, as amended, Regulation Il6, item 2
requires Party to ensure that those responsible for the training and
assessment of competence of seafarers, as required under the Convention,
are appropriately qualified in accordance with the provisions of section Al l6
of the STCW Code for the type and level of training or assessment involved.
2. Noting that item 7, Section A-U 6 of STCW Code states that each Party which
recognizes a course of training, a training institution or a qualification
granted by a training institution, as part of its requirements for the issue of a
certificate required under the convention, shall ensure that the qualification
and experience of instructors and assessors are covered in the quality
standard provisions of section A-I/8. Such qualification, experience and
application of quality standards shall incorporate appropriate training in
instructional techniques, and training and assessment methods and.
practice, and shall comply with all applicable requirements of paragraphs 4
to 6 of section A-116 of the STCW Code.
3. Whereas, the Directorate had made it mandatory for Principal I Yice
Principal / faculty / instructors to undertake the VICT course as per
Training Circular No. 25 of 2018 dated 01 October, 2018
4. Whereas the Principal I Vice Principal / faculty / instructors who have
undertaken the TOTA / TOTI course prior to issuance of Training Circular
No. 25 of 2018 dated 01 October, 2018 were not required to undertake VICT
course.
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a( .,5. Whereas the MTIs were directed to ensure that the Principal / Vice Principal
/ faculty / instructors undertaken the VICT / TOTA / TOTI course latest by
November 30, 2018 as per Training Circular No. 25 of 2018 dated 01
October, 2018.
6. Noting that despite issuance of Training Circular No. 25 of 2018 dated 01
October, 2018, many of the MTIs are not complying with the qualification
requirements of Principal / Vice Principal / faculty / instructors.
7. Noting that some of the Principal / Vice Principal / faculty / instmctors (full
time permanent basis / fulI time perma-nent on contractual agreement basis
/ visiting) as per records submitted to DGS are not meeting age requirements
as per DGS guidelines.
8. Noting that the MTIs are still employing faculty / instructors who are
employed by other MTI on full time permanent basis / full time permanent
on contractual agreement basis.
9. Taking cognizance of the above and to ensure compliance with STCW
requirements, the Directorate has decided to initiate the following
disciplinary action for non-compliance of this Training Circular.
9. 1. Access to e-governance portal for uploading batch details for maritime
course shall be denied to the MTI if any Frincipal / Vice Principal / faculty /
instructors (full time permanent basis / full time permarent on contractua-l
agreement / visiting) is found not meeting the qualification requirements.
9.2. Access to e-governance portal for uploading batch details for maritime
course shall be denied to the MTI if any Principal / Vice Principal / faculty I
instructors (full time permanent basis / full time permanent on contractual
agreement / visiting) is found not meeting the age requirements.
9.3.
The Certificate of Competenry of the Principal / faculty / instructor may be
initiated for suspension if found employed on full time permanent basis /
full time permanent on contractual agreement basis with multiple MTI.
9.4. Principal / faculty / instructor not having VICT / TOTA / TOTI qualification
as applicable and found imparting training to candidates in DGS approved
\iT"
Page 2 of 3MTI shall be debarred from teaching in any DGS approved MTI for a period
of five years.
10. A11 MTIs are advised to ensure that the faculty details are correct and
updated at all times on their MTI profile.
11. The Mercantile Marine Departments (MMD) / Recognized Organizations (RO)
are advised to ensure that the VICT / TOTA / TOTI certifrcates as applicable
of all those involved in training are physically verified during any kind of
inspection undertaken by them. Any deliciency noted must be immediately
reported to the Principal Officer of MMD and the Directorate.
12. The Maritime Training Institutes are hereby directed to ensure that all
Principal / vice Principal / faculty / instructors (permanent / permanent on
contractual basis / visiting) have undergone the training (VICT / TOLA I
TOTI) as applicable latest by June 30, 2019.
13. This Training Circular enters in to force with immediate effect.
14.
This issues with the approval of the Director General of S
(Deependra Bisen)
Asstt. Director General of Shipping
To
All DGS approved MTIs.
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